POS1203-HPR EVALUATION OF TELENURSING FOLLOW-UP IN A COHORT OF STABLE/LOW DISEASE ACTIVITY PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIDES: A FEASIBILITY STUDY
Authors: M. R. Melis, K. El Aoufy, Y. Longobucco, S. Bambi, S. Guiducci, L. Rasero, M. Matucci-Cerinic
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Periodic follow-up (FU) is necessary for patients with Rheumatic Diseases (RDs). In the case of a stable clinical condition or low disease activity, FU can be carried out also by rheumatology nurses (RNs). Recent studies focusing on FUs led by RNs either in Rheumatology Clinics and with Telenursing (TN), showed promising results in terms of outcomes, cost reduction and users' satisfaction. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate the feasibility of a Telenursing FU in a Rheumatology Centre in Florence, Italy. <h3>Methods</h3> In this pilot study, patients with stable inflammatory arthritis or low disease activity were contacted, after their first visit, through TN (T0) and then assessed during the following in-person visit (V12) by RNs for treatment adherence, for pain, for mental and physical health, for workability, for perception of disease activity and satisfaction concerning the TN service. <h3>Results</h3> Out of 27 interviewed patients, 59.3% (n=16/27) was affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), 18.5% (n=5/27) by Spondyloarthritis (AS), 14.8% (n=4/27) by Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) and 7.4% (n=2/27) by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The mean age was 57.5±13.1 (M± DS) years and the treatment adherence level was optimal. 11.1% (n=3/27) of patients was referred for medical consultation because of the urgent clinical situation assessed by the RNs according to the clinical multidisciplinary checklist. After specialist consultation, 1 patient was revalued in presence for a transient ischemic attack; 1 patient was contacted by the rheumatologist following independent discontinuation of methotrexate therapy; 1 patient was redirected to urgent dermatology consultation because of a suspected cutaneous drug reaction. During the TN period (12 months), 33.3% (n=9/27) of the patients contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection and 11.1% (n=3/27) contracted urinary or upper respiratory tract infections. RA patients showed a mean Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease-RAID score of 2.4 at T0 and 2.5 at V12 (Range 0-10); AS patients showed a mean Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society-ASAS score of 0.3 in both periods and PsA showed a mean Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease-PSAID score of 0.7 and 0.8 at T0 and V12, respectively. Among RA, AS and PsA patients, as a pain score of 3 was recorded in both periods. In order to attend the in-person FU visit, 68.4% (n=13/19) of the patients took work leave. 37% (n=10/27) of them waited 40.9±18.6 minutes at V12 control. The average distance between the Rheumatology Centre and patients' home was 29.3±25.6 km. 15.4% (n=5/13) of the respondents did not own a car and 23.1% (n=3/13) was accompanied to visit by their caregiver. All the included patients expressed high satisfaction for the TN service, corresponding to 5 point Likert scale. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The data show that TN FU is a valuable model for maintaining an adequate level of therapeutic adherence, reducing the travel time and working day loss, intercepting remotely clinical issues, as well as registering a high level of user acceptance and satisfaction. Further studies on larger samples are needed to confirm our findings. <h3>References</h3> [1] Bech B et al (2020) 2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the role of the nurse in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis. <i>Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases</i>; 79:61-68. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-215458. [2] Alcazar B, Ambrosio L. (2019) Tele-nursing in patients with chronic illness: a systematic review. <i>An Sist Sanit Navar</i>; 42(2):187-197. doi: 10.23938/ASSN.0645. [3] Larsson I et al. (2013) Randomized controlled trial of a nurse-led rheumatology clinic for monitoring biological therapy. <i>Journal of Advanced Nursing</i>; 70(1), 164–175., 2013 doi:10.1111/jan.12183 <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.